ANAHOLA — JoAnn Kane of Anahola is thrilled to have a neighbor after more than 30 years. “This is so exciting,” Kane said, pausing from playing with her grandchild to watch the crew scramble over the Kauai Habitat for Humanity’s
ANAHOLA — JoAnn Kane of Anahola is thrilled to have a neighbor after more than 30 years.
“This is so exciting,” Kane said, pausing from playing with her grandchild to watch the crew scramble over the Kauai Habitat for Humanity’s homesite in Anahola on Tuesday. “I’m so happy, and these people get a home. This is wonderful. My husband and I watched this lot for more than 30 years being used as a parking lot, a dumping ground and whatever else.”
A Global Village team, under the leadership of Stefanie McGee of Tennessee, descended on the homesite of Vern Kauanui and Don Baker in Anahola, spending the day painting.
“This is the first day of my first build,” said Robin Nasatir of California. “I’m already covered in paint (and mud), and it looks like I’m a veteran builder.”
Nasatir said she and a friend, Sheila Rankin of Huntington Beach, California, wanted to do volunteer work which would make a difference. Following some research, Nasatir, a professional modern dancer, said they applied and were accepted by Global Village.
Kauanui and Baker, supporters of other Kauai Habitat projects in Anahola, spent the lunch break getting to know their new-found friends eager to get their home completed.
“It’s so exciting,” Kauanui said. “You can see the green paint in the can, but when it comes out and goes on the house, it’s such an experience.”
Katherine Duffy of Toronto, Canada, said the Global Village build was a reunion of sorts. She worked with several of the team members in New Mexico, and seeing them again on Kauai was a nice sight.
The team will be working on the Kauai Habitat homesite through Friday. Volunteers who want to help with the build, or meet the Global Village volunteers by working alongside them, can call Kauai Habitat Volunteer Coordinator Christina Trugillo.
“This is my first build, and my first time in Hawaii,” said Elizabeth Lee of Ohio. “I’ve seen people do these builds, and I always wanted to do it because I like working with my hands.”
